VERNON "CATFISH" SMITH

Vernon “Catfish” Smith earned All-State recognition in football, basketball and baseball at Lanier High in Macon. As a football player, he was a three-time All-GIAA player, with the GIAA being the highest brand of Georgia high school football at the time. Smith went on to play at Georgia and was a consensus All-American in 1931. His most famous performance came as a sophomore in 1929 when Georgia faced a heavily favored Yale in the first game ever played at Sanford Stadium. Smith accounted for all of the Bulldogs’ points in a 15-0 victory. He recovered a blocked punt in the end zone, kicked the extra point, had a receiving touchdown and added two points when he tackled a ball carrier for a safety. Smith was also a multi-sport athlete in college, playing basketball and baseball, and was captain of both teams. After his collegiate career, Smith remained involved with football, serving on coaching staffs at Georgia, South Carolina and Mississippi. He joined the Air Force and rose to the rank of Colonel before retiring in 1963. In 1956, Smith and Clint Castleberry were the first two athletes inducted into the Georgia Prep Hall of Fame, which evolved into what is now the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. In 1979, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Smith passed away in 1988 at age 80.